Gangtok, 12th December:
The workers’ crisis at NHPC Teesta Stage V power project, Balutar, East District does not appear to end soon as the NHPC management could not fulfill even a single demand of the aggrieved workers in the stipulated time. In the meeting held three months before on September 3rd , after much protests and strike at the work place it was decided that the demands of the protesting workers would be fixed in three months time. Concerning the same, the W –O Grade workers, who has been demanding stability for their job and grant of posts according to their qualification had stopped their agitation for the period of three months which lapsed on 3rd December. One of the protesting labour Santosh Adhikari said on phone that their group has fixed a meeting with the District Collector, East on December 13 which will further decide their approach to the agitation. “We had sought intervention of the Rural Management and Development Department (RMDD) Minister CB Karki on December 6th on our issue and the outcome was quite positive”, he added.

The NHPC has however tried to solve the differences by offering the agitators with training and job placement for the posts of Stenographer, Dressers, EOT Crane Operators and Scientific Assistant. But the the agitators have been long demanding the posts of Work Assistant, Store Keeper and Assistant Grade for the local workers instead of the posts offered by the management. The carelessness of management towards their grievances clearly indicates that these demands will remain unfulfilled until we pressurize the management with the help of higher authorities, Adhikari added.

(Courtesy: Sikkim Mail)

 

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